Staying Positive

[Jimmy Tootime]

Hey you great people, hope your well.

More rain here up north, it seems like we are having more rain than ever. I hope it stops soon and the sun will come out soon.

I have recently started building a membership based site, it is taking alot of creating. I am working with various designers and script experts. I have done alot of initial research and have a good marketing strategy. I kindly wondered how you stay positive building a new business everyday, not knowing if it will work or not, or make any money. Does anyone have any strategies or tips to help deal with this uncertainty?

Many thanks for any advice you can give. Take care.

 

[Stas Lawicki]

Hi Jimmy. You sound like a perky person so you're starting from a good base...!

My two pence worth...

1) remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing (presumably because you enjoy the challenge, the job, the adventure etc). It might be as simple as not wishing to have a boss ever again.

2) it may not work. It might amount to nothing (many business do fail), but that's not a reason to try. You've got to put your all into it. There's a lot of luck involved in the early years but many find the better you prepare for the opportunity, the greater the success.

3) you'll get bad days and good days. Like anything in life, try and focus on the better days than the bad.

4) build a success file - highlight all the great achievements, battles won, milestones and store it somewhere. Look at it when things are rocky.

5) share your journey with others and seek their support when you need it. Sometimes family and close friends are not the best in every situation so look for a mentor or mentoring group.

6) give yourself a break now and then and go and do other things that you enjoy. The biggest perk of being one's own boss is the freedom it can bring. Take up a new hobby or try new experiences. I spent most of my summer sailing a couple of years ago - most of it when most people were working their 9-5.

7) don't be afraid to fail or try again if things don't work out. I've alluded to this in previous points (some will say it's overly pessimistic, and it might be) but there are millions who try and fail, only to succeed on the second, third or tenth time. I've no idea of your financial situation but if you're taking a big pay cut or not paying yourself and income is a concern, cut back to the basics, find alternative part time employment if you need to, cancel any unnecessary subscriptions, don't blow all your cash on flash things that new businesses simply do not need... And go for it!

Keep us all posted on progress...good luck

 

[Jimmy Tootime]

Hi Stas,

Thank you very much for the great post, i found this very useful. I particular liked you go sailing, while most people work there 9 - 5 thats true freedom. It must be relaxing and peaceful also.

I will refer to your post as i continue to build new new venture and will keep you posted. Thanks again for leaving your comments, this is very nice of you.

Take care.

 

[Mr D]

Hey you great people, hope your well.

More rain here up north, it seems like we are having more rain than ever. I hope it stops soon and the sun will come out soon.

I have recently started building a membership based site, it is taking alot of creating. I am working with various designers and script experts. I have done alot of initial research and have a good marketing strategy. I kindly wondered how you stay positive building a new business everyday, not knowing if it will work or not, or make any money. Does anyone have any strategies or tips to help deal with this uncertainty?

Many thanks for any advice you can give. Take care.

Start building a boat to take along 2 of every animal - including the traditional 2 male lions.
Oh wait, if it stops raining then open a zoo.

Seriously when working alone its often good to join groups - business or non business as you desire. And take time regularly to meet with people when the hours suit you.
Working alone can get darned lonely.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I am very positive

We are leaving the EU today and I am positive it will be a F£££ up

I am being positive I know where we are heading and I understand it well

Hope this helps

 

[mattk]

My advice would be to have a Minimum Viable Product and get to market as soon as possible. That way you can quickly react to feedback from real users, rather than falling for the fateful mistake of many failed software development projects which is thinking you know what your customer wants.

If I had a quid for every feature which was on the pre-go live priority list only for it to be dropped for a feature suggested by actual users - I'd have a private jet on 24-hour standby.

 

[brianj_hill]

Make sure you really do your homework and have a) a product that's of value and b) is unique from the competition. Then a) keep disciplined b) seek and listen to the feedback and c) believe in yourself